Stromae stage box and Elio Di Rupo bow tie among items up for auction

Personal possessions belonging to well-known Belgians including Stromae, Kevin De Bruyne and former prime minister Elio Di Rupo will be put up for auction in Brussels later this month to raise funds for Handicap International.

The auction, called ‘Les Cœurs Solidaires’, will be held on 27 November at Hotel Plaza in Brussels.

One of the most prominent items is Belgian artist Stromae’s iconic stage piece - the Papaoutai box he used as a dramatic entrance prop during his Racine Carrée tour.

The box was made in collaboration between Stromae’s creative house Mosaert and the Benuts studio and is estimated in value at €3,000.

In addition to Stromae’s contribution, other Belgian public figures have donated items.

The lots on display include former prime minister Elio Di Rupo’s iconic red bow tie, collector’s vinyl boxes featuring Axelle Red’s 1993-2023 studio recordings, a signed Red Devil football shirt worn by Kevin De Bruyne, an original drawing by Le Chat creator Philippe Geluck, and singer Sandra Kim’s pink bow tie.

Finally, interested parties will be able to bid on the tennis racket used by Dominique Monami at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, with which she won a bronze medal.

The auction’s proceeds will go to Handicap International’s projects for supporting people with disabilities during conflicts, disasters, and other vulnerable situations.